Groundbreaking Ruling against Activists for Refugees’ Right to Asylum – Jail Time for Four Participants in the March for

Freedom – Press Conference

Monday, May 22, 2017 11 a.m.

Waldemarstr. 46

Three years after the internationally organized March for Freedom, four participants in a peaceful demonstration in the city of Luxembourg have been sentenced to restrictive suspended sentences and high fines. The entire trial appeared extremely arbitrary and did not correspond to fair legal practices.

The March for Freedom set a signal for the right to freedom of movement and Asylum. People, with and without “Papiers,” peacefully crossed boarders from Strasbourg to Brussels. The demonstration in Luxemburg on June 5, 2014 on the occasion of the European Union Ministers of the Interior meeting on “Fight against Illegal Immigration”.

In Luxemburg at the Kirchberg, it came to a clash with the police. Without any warning and no plan, the police indiscriminately sought to arrest demonstrators using ferocious dogs. The police operation included tear gas, night sticks and dog bites which resulted in severe injuries among the demonstrators. A black activist from Berlin-Kreuzberg was suffered racist slurs and was so badly mishandled that he lost consciousness.

The arrested demonstrators were charged plotting activities which break the law of the Luxemburg Criminal Code (Rebellion). In addition there were individual charges of Personal injury, property damage, insulting an officer and resisting arrest. During the trial there was not one concrete accusation. The defendants were indiscriminately sentenced to six month suspended jail time for “armed and planned rebellion”; and fines in the high four-digit range. The actions of the Luxemburg police played no role in the trial, even though there was an ongoing investigation by the Luxemburg Ministry of the interior looking into the matter.

The Court’s conclusion was independent of any factual evidence and ignored contradictory statements made by various police officers. They reached an extreme conclusion [“armed and planned rebellion”], which confirms the arbitrary and unprofessional approach of the Luxemburg court.

In Luxemburg it was all about criminalizing peaceful protests for basic rights. The same thing was tried against the refugee camp at Oranienplatz in Berlin. One of the convicted activists said: “The policy of the EU is to split and discriminate against people. But I am not afraid. I am fighting for freedom, and I hope that everyone understands, that it is not criminal to fight for freedom and basic rights. We need solidarity of people in our fight. It is not right to look the other way when other people have to fight for freedom.” In consequence for peaceful protests and exercising his fundamental rights, this refugee may face deportation. He and others will put forward their views of the European “Welcome Culture” on Monday at a press conference.